Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Robotics Takes Over the Supply Chain

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Robotics Takes Over the Supply Chain Supply chains are complex operations. Inevitably, there are hundreds (or even thousands) of people involved in each one, and manual tasks that are prone to error often dominate theprocess. But because tasks are usually interdependent, one problem or mistake can throw the whole system into chaos. Digital transformation, however, is playing a major role in supply chain management, changing the way organizations deliver products, fulfill orders, and conduct operations. To start, in a recent article forSupply and Demand Chain Executive, Ray Barratt explained the value of process robotics. Backend Software Drives Process Robotics “Process robotics works by automating the entire supply chain from end to end (not just individual tasks) â€" enabling all different sections to be managed in tandem. The adoption of software robotics allows professionals to focus less time on day-to-day processes and, instead, provides more time to drive value for the entire business,” he wrote. Process robotics provides a centralized approach to procurement, shipping, warehousing, and inventory management. In essence, it involves teaching automation software how jobs are completed. Barratt called this embedded process know-how. “The tasks are completed on a job-by-job level, but coordinated as an entire unified process, allowing the interdependent sections to work in tandem,” he said. “For example, if the robotics solution detects that a warehouse is full due to a lack of inventory movement, it automatically alerts/halts procurement, or adjusts to a new storage location if one is available.” For the rest of the piece, head on over to the QuickBase Fast Track blog.

My Life, My Job, My Career Tips To Help You Succeed

My Life, My Job, My Career Tips To Help You Succeed After graduation, you may expect to be propelled to the highest heights of the career world, especially if you have trained in a particular field. But what if your dream career isnt quite what you thought it would be?  What if you snapped a selfie and didnt like what you saw?   Is it possible to change your path?  What are your career options? Consider a move rather than a new career. It is possible to make a change in your career, but there are lots of factors to consider. Apart from the basics like how you will pay your bills, you also need to think about making a smart career move. First of all look at your current career, is there another role within your current field that you can move to that you would find more satisfying? For example, if youre a copywriter in advertising, would being an art worker be a better fit? If you are a care assistant, would you like to get qualified and become a fully fledged nurse? If you can make a sideways step, it will probably be easier and look better on your C.V., that a total U-turn.  And remember that a sideways step may require only minimal additional training because of overlapping skills and knowledge requirements. Research You may want to change completely from the career you have the moment. If this is the case, then there are a few things you need to think about. First of all make a list of all the things you love doing. There may be some good possibilities in hobbies or interests you already hold. A good way of going about this process is to read the book What Color Is My Parachute. This will help you to identify your strengths and the working conditions that you will function well in. This can help you create an actionable plan to make your career change. You can also research your personality type on the Myers-Briggs index. This can help show you the types of job and type of work environment in which you will flourish. For example, INFPs favor creative and counseling situations, where an ENTJs prefer roles is like an account or analyst. Before you make your final decision, it might be a good idea to volunteer or shadow someone that is already working in the industry you wish to be in. There is no better experience than to roll your sleeves up and get involved. Things that seem a good idea on paper can often be different in reality. It is also great to have a working knowledge of your new career, from the inside before you make the jump. Re- Training Once youre ready to make the jump then comes the training. Training is available in all sorts of areas. The artistic among you may go for a photography course or a course in how to sell your artwork online. The more business-minded may prefer an accountancy qualification or an MBA. Remember you can choose a full-time course, a part-time course or a home study course. If time is of the essence, take a full-time course. If its important to keep working in your current job then consider part-time, which you can fit around your commitments. This is good because you get the benefit of training to do something new while having the security of keeping your old job. Remember Your career options are only as limited as your imagination! Images: Degree regret  Quinn Dombrowski Selfie  Angel Visha

How Much Does a Career Coach Cost Average Costs and More - Career Sidekick

How Much Does a Career Coach Cost Average Costs and More - Career Sidekick How Much Does a Career Coach Cost? Average Costs and More Data Studies / https://www.edenscott.com/blog If you’re looking for how much a career coach costs, you’ve come to the right place.We asked 50 career coaches in the US, UK, and Canada what theyre currently charging new clients to come up with how much a career coach costs on average, and the highest and lowest coaching rates available.Lets get startedHow Much Does a Career Coach Cost?The average cost of a career coach is $207 per hour, based on prices from 50 career coaches in the US, UK, and Canada. Note that this average figure is strictly for general career coaching, and the average costs rise for specialized fields like executive coaching, leadership coaching, and more.While finding this average figure of $207, we saw hourly rates for career coaching as low as $75, and as high as $497. See graphic below for a visual representation of the data:Note: You can find cheaper career coaching services on freelance websites like Fiverr.com, but these are typically not proven, experienced career coac hes with established practices. Anyone can quickly make an account on Fiverr and start offering a service.So our data above does *not* include this type of service offering. We only included professional career coaches with their own websites and established coaching practices, because thats who wed recommend using.Career Coaching Can Cost Less With a Multi-Week PackageWe also found that many career coaches offer pricing deals and discounts if you sign up for a package (such as four sessions over a one month period).In fact, some coaches only offer this type of package, probably because they know theyre going to have a limited impact in just one session, and they really need four sessions to start getting results for you.This is normal and is not a sign of a bad coach; it means they understand the process takes time and arent interested in taking your money if you cant commit to a long enough time period to get results.We observed career coaching packages being offered in a variety of structures from two 45-minute sessions, all the way up to 4, 5, or even 9 sessions in a package.Group Career Coaching Can Save You Even More MoneyIf the average prices above sound too steep, or the idea of spending hundreds of dollars on career coaching isnt something youre comfortable with, then you might want to try group career coaching to start.Many of the professional career coaches we checked in with to gather pricing information for this article also offer group coaching for MUCH cheaper.For example, we saw a coach offering a single 90-minute session for $295, but you could get two hour-long group sessions for just $59.Thats a serious bargain.And while the time wont be 100% dedicated to you, youll be able to listen to other peoples questions and problems and hear how the coach advises them, too. Theres some value in this as well.Are Career Coaches Worth It?A career coach can be a great investment. They offer guidance and advice that can save you time and help you earn more money in your career. They also help with motivation and accountability; hiring a career coach is a good way to have someone to hold you accountable if you dont follow through on a goal, etc.A career coach can help you with all of the following:Gain promotions and raises at work, including negotiating with your employerNavigate your job search and land more job offers from top employersNegotiate a new job offer at the end of a successful job searchPlan and execute a career change or industry changeBuild your network to position yourself for future career growth and opportunitiesStay accountable and on-track for all of the goals mentioned aboveIf you can afford the cost of a career coach (covered previously in this article), it can be one of the best investments youll make in yourself and your career.As a first step, we recommend talking to a couple of career coaches to hear how they work and what they can offer you for your situation.In our research of career coaching costs, we saw that around 50% of career coaches seem to offer some sort of free introductory session. So its possible to speak with a few coaches and hear their approach before investing your money.How to Find a Career CoachYou can find a career coach by asking in your network or searching for Career Coaching on LinkedIn or Google. Additionally, there are many large websites with listings of coaches that you can browse through. Youll likely see those sites when searching Google for terms like Career Coaching as well.For example, we used Noomii.com to help us find career coaches to speak with while putting together this study on how much a career coach costs. Theyre just one of the many large sites that list hundreds of coaches.In our opinion, though, nothing beats a coach whos been personally recommended by someone you know and trust. So we recommend starting in your network and asking anyone you know personally if they can recommend someone.Questions to Ask a Potential Career CoachIf you do spe ak with one or more career coaches about engaging their services, make sure to ask them questions that will help you decide if theyre the right choice for you.Id recommend asking questions like:What type of person do you typically help? Or who are you best suited to help?Beware of one-size-fits-all coaches who claim to be great at everything. You should find someone whos helped people in similar situations to yours, including people of your age group, your educational background, etc.What are some results youve gotten for past clients?Asking about past results is one of the best ways to find out how competent they are and how likely they are to deliver a good result for YOU as well. As a side note this is why you should mention specific results/accomplishments when writing your resume bullets and when giving interview answers.What would you need to know from me before deciding whether you can help me?Beware of a coach who wants to take any and all clients they can get. This is a si gn that theyre desperate for work. You want a coach whos busy and is being selective in who they choose to work with. Or, at least has some questions for you to make sure theyre the right person to help you!Do you do this work full-time?Id recommend finding someone who specializes in this one field of work. Beware of someone whos doing resume writing, career coaching, and working a part-time job for someone else. Find someone whos able to support themselves fully as a professional career coach. Sure, they might be a bit more expensive, but its worth it. Youre going to lose more than you save if you get bad advice from an inexperienced coach and cripple your career or job search.The Bottom Line: Career Coaching Can be a Great InvestmentIf youre stuck in your career, struggling in your job search, or just feel like you could use a little help making some tough decisions and planning your future, then getting a few sessions of career coaching can be a great investment.Of course, everyo nes career and financial situation is different so if you decide career coaching is just too expensive now that weve looked at how much a career coach costs, theres one other way to get great advice from experts: E-booksMany coaches and other experts have written books with some of their best advice laid out for you and ready to use, for a fraction of the cost of a coaching session.So if you want expert help without having to pay an arm and a leg, we put together a list of the top books for job seekers here.

Sexuality Its Not A Big Mystery

Sexuality Its Not A Big Mystery Western culture has been criticized for our emphasis on sexuality.  For being womanizing, for promoting everything from soup to nuts and soap to butts with sex.  And while the subject is usually considered to be of the female gender, though more subtle,  men are just as much in the game.  Its time this was put into perspective. Sexuality Definition Not to be confused with sexual orientation, sexuality is first defined by Webster as capacity for sexual feelings.  They go on:  She began to understand the power of her sexuality.  Synonyms: sensuality, sexiness, seductiveness, desirability, eroticism, physicality, sexual appetite, passion, desire, lust. She had a powerful sexuality. Sexuality from a Historical Perspective As Wikipedia notes, The social construction of sexual behaviorâ€"its taboos, regulation, and social and political impactâ€"has had a profound effect on the various cultures of the world since prehistoric times.  This seems like a  pretty duh statement, yes? But look at some of the worlds oldest cultures.  Knowing that current practices can be traced back sometimes thousands of years, one begins to get a clearer picture of the how the powers inherent in sexuality are not something invented in the production studios of legitimate or erotic  western commercial enterprise. Way too much has been written about the supposedly victimized male.  Claiming all manner of wrongdoing, the popular media has spotlighted the use of sex, by women, as a weapon.  Even sources that one would expect to be pro-woman seem to all too easily vilify females in the sex dynamics of the modern western couple.    Some went so far as to list the seven ways women abuse their sexuality powers on their men. That some women do this is true.  Equally true is that men use the same psychological games of sex to manipulate their female partners.  The female behavior is only more obvious because the female is more often portrayed as the object of sex.  But this is changing, too.  More and more, men are coming out from the thinly veiled manipulation theyve used in the past and embracing the reality that they, too, have great powers in their sexuality. So comes the simple yet seldom heard advice:  Just because you have the power to do something doesnt mean you should.  Women possess great powers of sexuality.  Men possess great powers of sexuality.  They are not adversaries except when they choose to be so.  And the inherent existence of the powers have always been with us.  They are hardwired. Embracing the Power Everyone is familiar with the weapons of the Jedi.  The lightsaber can be deadly, but it is elegant.  While the Jedi uses the lightsaber for defense, they characterize it as a weapon of a more civilized age.  From this, much we can learn, as Yoda might say. Knowing that the powers you possess are so great, the challenge is to master them.  Much as the Jedi learns to master the lightsaber.  In a more civilized age, one can learn to mate elegance to elegance.  The result . . .  well, if you dont know, you have pleasant experiences awaiting you. Reframing Sexuality Yes, sexuality, and the way sex is portrayed, is different  in western culture.  But, as the aforementioned video so pointedly illustrates, it is not simply commercial perversion and exploitation.  At worst, its simply our version  of one of the oddities of life, human life in particular. So what if the perceived warriors in this game of sexuality were to lay down the weapons?  Yes, most of us have been there.  Thats the  moment of . . . . OH  . . . OH! . . . .OH!! MY  . . .  GOD!!!   Seems to me, those moments are worth all the trouble.   Seems to me that a lot more of them might lower the general level of anxiety in the world.   Lay down your swords, and make piece.  (wink) Stoke the Fires Clearly, theres nothing wrong with the way sexuality is used in advertising.  Either advertising for hamburgers by Carls Jr or in the window cleaner ads that follow. These play on our natural, hardwired sexuality.  Maybe its time to get more in touch with yours?  But how, you say.  Ahhh, I thought youd never ask! Adventure is Where it is Found What goes on behind closed doors, well, is what goes on behind closed doors.  While I do not endorse such activity nor encourage it, sometimes it spills out from behind closed doors.   As in the recently covered news item about the High Roller Club that most of us would consider a wee bit much. So indulge yourself.  If you lack in the finer arts of sexuality, the bookstores are brimming with helpful and fully illustrated assistance.  Yes, theres even a Sex For Dummies.  And the internets propensity for all things sexual is certainly no secret.  Exploring can often result in sensory shock and extended worry about who will find out where you wandered.  A couple sites that tend more towards the classy and less towards the trashy are Victorias Secret  and 3 Wishes  . Now, put down the weapons.  Plan your adventure.  And, oh yes, be sure to tell the boss youll be late tomorrow.

5 Little-Known Factors That Could Affect Your Job Search in Canada CareerMetis.com

5 Little-Known Factors That Could Affect Your Job Search in Canada Planning a job search in 2018 eh?As a newcomer to Canada, you will be making one of the biggest milestone decisions of your life.evalBut you have doubts, questions and moreover, fears of the unknown.Leaving your comfort zone is never easy. I have been there, when I decided to move from Dubai to Canada.Besides battling the “Should-I-stay-or-should-I-go” voices in your head, there is the pressure of finding that first job to keep the income flowing and the savings safe.A recent event hosted in Markham, Ontario, called the Gateway Conference 2017was a revelation for me personally.It welcomed newcomers from all over the province to express their concerns and frustrations about finding their first job in Canada.I saw the same mistakes, constantly being made by every person I heard and spoke to.Five obvious one stood out.1. Misunderstanding the definition of “Canadian Experience”evalIt is the most infamous issue haunting newcomer job seekers in Canada today.It takes shape in the fo rm of the hiring manager turning down a candidate for a job with a frustrating statement, “You don’t have enough Canadian experience.”Most newcomers assessing the risks of moving to Canada know this dilemma.The Ontario Human Rights CommissionAn understandable assumption that newcomers make is that Canadian experience means working in Canada.Nevertheless, the definition goes much deeper than that.According to thissurvey conducted by OHRC, we get to hear the voices of both job seekers and employers of their take on this issue.My personal definition of Canadian experience:A hiring manager’s perception of your soft skills and knowledge of Canadian work culture.Think about it for a second.If your resume already shows that you have not worked in Canada before, why would the hiring manager call you for the interview in the first place?Newcomers to Canada, especially those that come from cultures where technical skills are ranked higher than soft skills, need to grasp an understandi ng of local workplace cultures and the importance of soft skills.I recently met a newcomer at a LinkedIn Local event who has been working in Canada for 1 year.evalBack in India, she was a scrum master, and led a team of six people.When she arrived here, she scouted for the same job.Although opportunities were there for the taking, the Canadian experience card was dealt to her every single time.She finally decided to pursue a role as a software developer. She was not leading a team but she was part of one, reporting to a team leader.After 1 year of work experience, she told me the vast difference between being part of a team in Canada versus India.evalAmong many, the biggest difference was the fact that in Canada, you are expected to have an open dialogue with your bosses, maybe even challenge them at times. Because if not, you are perceived as lacking initiative.Back in India, the boss’ word is the law â€" it is followed unquestioned, unchallenged.I asked her “If you could turn the clock back one year, do you think you could have led a team here in Canada?”She smiled and admitted “No way! I am glad I took on this job so that I could learn what local workplace culture is like first. Now, I think I’m ready to lead a team.”Even if you have 5-10-15-20 years of experience in your home country, although your job may be technically practiced in the same way (regulated jobsare an exception), understanding workplace culture in Canada and the soft skills required to perform at your job is key to overcoming the Canadian experience barrier.You can demonstrate your ambition by taking advantage of volunteering opportunities all over Canada, and seeking out mentors who are willing to pay-it-forward and educate you about your industry.Not to mention, all the free public services from government organizations and NGOs around Canada who specialize in helping newcomers.The good news about Canadian experience? It is a perception.Moreover, like all perceptions, you can manage them, if you are able to demonstrate to the hiring manager that you are learning about workplace culture and actively seeking to get hands on experience through volunteering.Most people are understandably bitter about this problem. Do not be most people.Acknowledging that you do not have Canadian experience, but that you’re actively doing something about it will go a long way in your cover letter and the job interview.2. Not taking an active approach to your job searchAt the conference, the audience were given an opportunity to come up to the mic and voice their concerns.One women walked up and you could hear the frustration and resentment in her voice.She had been unemployed for 8 years.Then, she said something that made me cringe.“It almost feels like looking for a job is a full-time job!”Being unemployed is no excuse for uploading a generic resume 20 times a day for an hour and kicking back to your favorite episodes on Netflix for the rest of the afternoon.If you ar e serious about your job search, you can fill 8 hours per day doing one or more of the following:Applying for jobs online with customized cover letters and resumesInformational InterviewsNetworking eventsVolunteeringReading industry news and sharing them with your LinkedIn networkResearching about companies you want to targetCreating and updating a personal websiteTouching base with your mentor or career coachAttending newcomer or job search assistance programsVlogging, blogging, learning from books, podcasts……I could go on and on.If it does not feel like a full time job, you are not doing it right.The more hoursyou dedicate to your job search every day, the more months you will save yourself from being unemployed.3. Not using assistance servicesMy cousin tried to do what most newcomers do â€" wing it!(OK, I was guilty of this too)Working in finance, she was not only a newcomer but was a return to work mother facing a 2-year career gap.After several failed resume blasts to onlin e job boards, she ditched the DIY approach and registered herself to a newcomer’s program hosted byCosti.After an intensive 2-week training that covered everything from Canadian workplace culture to job placement assistance, she got set up as an intern in a logistics company.She worked harder than ever.Finally, she secured a full time job at that company.10 months later, sadly, the company had to file for bankruptcy.While she was finishing her two-week notice, she updated her LinkedIn profile and let Canada know she was available for a new opportunity.Her phone would not stop ringing. In fact, she was rejecting recruiters.A dash of Canadian experience was all she needed to go from inadequate to in-demand.Many people believe if it is free, it is not worth it. Not in Canada!I personally trust and hire students from NGO calledNPowerwho provide an intensive 16-week training program, going above and beyond preparing job seekers for the workforce.Utilizing the generosity of these free s ervices will get you started in the right direction.This conference I attended was organized at the Hilton, attended by the mayor of Markham, hosted by a Canadian TV personality and paneled by CEOs of local organizations.Not to mention, the catered buffet.Canada’s community takes its public services seriously, and it would be a sin for struggling job seekers not to use them.4. Not getting professional help for your resumeCareer coach and New York Times bestseller Martin Yate, states that your resume is the most important financial document you will ever own.An interesting perspective, considering that document will lead to an interview that will lead to a job that will be the source of your financial security.Many people, however, fail to give enough importance this critical document deserves.Someone at the conference stated their resume was six pages long.I personally receive resumes today that are either ineligible due to terrible formatting or contain irrelevant (and even discr iminatory) information such as marital status and passport numbers.With the volumes of free content online, it is disheartening to see that these basic mistakes being made today.Perhaps not everyone has “documentation skills” as a strength.Seeking professional help for your resume is a worthy investment for any job seeker to make.Today, when many organizations are relying on software called application tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes before they reach human eyes, you need to have (or hire) the skills necessary to create a resume that appeals to both the ATS and human eyes.5. Not finding the courage to step a rung or two down the corporate ladderI get it.It is not easy to feel like you have to go back to paying your dues.After all, you moved to Canada for a better life and your career is a core part of that belief.When I moved to Canada, I tried applying for jobs at the managerial level I was at in my old organization.However, I soon realized it was naïve of me to belie ve that hiring managers would trust the team management skills I developed in the Middle East would work in Canada.I humbly started applying for jobs that were two levels below what I left behind.It worked!In fact, my active approach to job searching revealed a hidden job that was one level higher.2 years of applying the same grit and determination I used when moving to Canada led to a promotion back to my old job within the same company.And just like that, I was starting to feelthe better life I had dreamed off.Learning about Canadian workplace culture will take time, but once you get that first job, it is an inevitability.If you have the patience, courage and vision to take a few initial steps back to see the bigger picture, you will be back in the workforce in no time.As they say, the first step is always the hardest.Even though you may have to endure a temporary setback in your career at the beginning, the experience you developed from your past will propel back to where you bel ong.An expert I follow states that it may take a newcomer anywhere from 6-12 years to achieve the same career status they would have had back in their home country.I am on year three. Do not let pride delay the process.Hone your knowledge and skillsJob searching is never an easy time for anyone.As a newcomer to a country, not only do you have to deal with the stress of adapting to a new environment, you also have a mental financial clock ticking of your savings that is diminishing with time.But you had your reasons to move to Canada. And those reason compelled you to drive forward with your goals and ambition.You picture your beautiful home.You envision your children breathing the cool clean Canadian air and proud to see them growing up with the privileges you never had.These five little-known factors may be holding you back.Tell yourself you will take your job search a lot more seriously.Tell yourself you will seek the help from professionals who are ready to assist you today.Most importantly, tell yourself that you are ready to learn about the soft skills and workplace culture needed in Canada.Victimizing yourself against the barriers you face will not get you anywhere.Somebody out there is ready to give you a job, but it is your responsibility to go and find them.Your skills got you to Canada. Your knowledge and determination will keep you here.

Happiness all around the world - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Happiness all around the world - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I am back after a 17-day trip to 4 different countries. The trip started?in Surinam, a small country just north of Brazil. Together with one of our Dutch partners, Gea Peper of The Happiness Bureau, I did a workshop for an HR network. Surinam is currently facing an?economic crisis, so we focused especially on how to create happiness at work in tough times. We?were also guests on a Surinamese?TV show called Panorama. After that Gea and I flew on to Curacao in the Caribbean where we did another workshop for?HR leaders. The workshop ended with balloons :) We also did an interview with Dolfijn FM who have their studio right on the beach. Awesome! And of course there was time for a little bit of sightseeing. Curaco used to be a Dutch colony, so the capital Willemstad basically looks like Amsterdam in the Caribbeans. From curacao?I flew to New York City, where I met up with my awesome coworker Arlette to lead our 4th international Woohoo Inc Academy. 9 wonderful people from different US companies had signed up for the 3-day Academy and as far as we can tell from their feedback, everyone?had a blast and learned a lot. The Academy included a visit to Next Jump, one of the happiest workplaces we know, and some sightseeing, including a guided tour of Grand Central Terminal and a cruise on the East River. And following that?I flew to Dubai to speak at the 18th Global Women in Leadership Forum, where I did the opening keynote on day 2 and particularly made the point that if we want to create happier workplaces, we need more women in leadership positions. Here are some reactions from twitter: RT becbarry: Great kick off to day2 of WIL_Forum by happiness guru alexkjerulf #woohoo! #high5 #GWEF16 woohooinc pic.twitter.com/tnMy1TcEoO ? Mitren Chinoy (@nertim) October 25, 2016 @alexkjerulf you have truly inspired us today. Thank You! @WIL_Forum ? ???? ?????? (@kreidiehr) October 25, 2016 An electric start to the day with @alexkjerulf on #happiness and #leadership. #GWEF16 pic.twitter.com/globR2O8EZ ? Charlotte Ch?deville (@ChaChedeville) October 25, 2016 And then I flew home. My internal clock is so fried, Im not even sure I have jetlag at all. But Im also incredibly encouraged to once again have had the chance to spread the gospel of happiness at work in some new countries and to find so many like-minded people all over the world who agree that this is an incredibly important topic that businesses need to act on. In fact, this trip brings the total number of countries weve spoken in to 41. Heres the complete list: Antigua Bahamas Bulgaria Chile Croatia Cura?ao Czech Republic Denmark Dominican Republic Estonia France Germany Greenland Guatemala Iceland India Ireland Italy Japan Israel Kuwait Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Suriname Sweden ?Switzerland Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom USA Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

3 Tips For Developing a Killer Website as a Freelancer

3 Tips For Developing a Killer Website as a Freelancer There’s a lot that goes into making a success of yourself as a freelancer. You’ve got to develop a good collection of professional contacts who can confirm your credentials, you need to be devastatingly good at time-management, so as to avoid the crisis that all too often strikes new freelancers â€" the realisation that no one is going to check up on them, and the subsequent lapse into mass procrastination â€" and more. One thing that all expert freelancers will agree on, however, is that having a good website â€" a killer website, in fact â€" is critical in playing the game the right way, winning clients, and being taken seriously in whatever field you plan to work in. After all, in the digital age, a website is kind of like a store-front, a billboard, and a recommendation, all built into one. Here are some tips for developing a killer website as a freelancer. Don’t be afraid of spending money where necessary As a freelancer, you should certainly be wary of the idea that throwing money at a problem will make it go away. You do, inevitably, have to put in a certain amount of hard work in order to secure success. That being said, there are areas of your professional life where you simply do need to spend money “in order to make money”, and where trying to be too frugal can really do you harm. One of these areas is your website, and web presence, generally. It may be a good investment for you to buy network monitoring software, but it’s certainly essential that you hire a professional website designer if you, yourself, aren’t able to create a polished and professional site. Be ruthlessly honest with yourself here. An amateurish looking website can do your professional image a world of harm. Convey your message with clarity and a good narrative A website is, fundamentally, a platform for communicating directly with your target audience. It’s the first impression you make, and the chance you get to pitch them your services before they wander off to another corner of the internet. For these reasonings, crafting the right narrative on your site is essential. You need to distil your message, and put it out there, in a way that is directly appealing and enticing to your prospects. Think about what your target market wants and needs, and position yourself as the person who understands their struggle, and has the right solution at hand. Include professional photos, testimonials, and links from clients Testimonials are one of the most powerful marketing tools you have at your disposal, so you’d better begin accumulating them as early as possible, even if that means doing a free project for a client in exchange for a sample piece for your portfolio, and a testimonial from them. A good testimonial pre-qualifies you to all your other prospective clients, and helps to build confidence in you. But don’t even dream of faking testimonials, or of doing what some people do, and using text-only testimonials on your site attributed to people like “Bob”. Your testimonials need to include pictures of the people who gave them, along with their job descriptions, and links to their company websites.